Turbine engine



April 15, 1924. 1,490,378, JR. l. FROST n TURBINE ENGINE 'Filed oec. e. 1920" s sheetssheet x April 15 1924.

R. l. FROST TURBINE ENGINE Filed Dec. 6

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April 1s 1924. 1,490,378

R. ll. FROST TURBINE ENGINE Filed Dec. 6 1926 3 Sheets-Sheet 5 INI/EN TOR. f, ZEW/f /-fw` ATTORNEY.

Patented Apr. 15, 1924.

UNITED STATES RALPH I. FROST, OF AUGUSTA, KANSAS, ASSIGNOR TO THE GEO. BROWN N PATENT OFFICE.

STATE BANK, TRUSTEE, 0F AUGUSTA, KANSAS. y

fruannm Enormi'.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, RALPH I. Faos'r, a citizen of the United States, residing at Augusta, in the county of- Butler and S-tate of Kansas, have invented a certain new and useful Improvement inV Turbine Engines, of which the followingr is a specification.

My invention relates to improvements 'in turbine engines.

It is particularly adapted for use in turbine generators. y n y 4The object of my invention is to provide anovel turbine engine of the type having a vertical driving shaft and a turbine wheel attached thereto. in which the fluid pressure which rotates the turbine wheel tends to support the shaft and wheelso as to yreduce friction and afford an easy `running machine. y

My invention provides further novel bearings for the drivingshaft. l

My invention provides still further 'novel mechanism for-"controlling the supply of fluid under pressure to thek turbine wheel. My invention rfurther provides 'a turbine generator having novel means for rotecting the armature from being injure .by the fluid which propels the turbine'wheel.

inventiony provides still further a' nove t g urbine nerator which is simple in construction, c eap to: make, durable and not liable to get out of 'order,-which occupies relatively small floor space, which is readily accessible for the purposes of lubrication, repairing or changing the speed.

The novel features of myk invention are hereinafter fully described and claimed.

In the accompanying drawings which illustrate the preferred embodiment of my invention. 'f f Fig. 1 is avertical central sectional view Y Vof my improved turbine generator.

fill

y Fig. 2 is a horizontal sectional view on the line 2--2 of Fig. 1.'y

Fig.I 3 `is a vertical sectional view, enlarged, on the.. line ofFig. 2.

Fig. 4 is a side elevation of my improved generator, with the cover. shown in the open position. y

Fig. 5 is a vertical sectional view on the line 5-45 of l. 'f

Fig. 6 is a vertical sectional view, enlarged, on the line 6-6 of Fignf.

Fig. 74 is a crosssection just below the armature winding. l

Similar reference characters designate lsimilar parts in the different views.

In the form of my invention shown in the drawings, there is provided a support comprising the following described parts.

1 designates a horizontal 'substantially circular b ase member of'a turbine wheel casing provided with supporting legs 2 and having in its under side a circular recess 3, the lower side of which is normally closed by a plate 4.

`Base member 1 is provided with a central vertical hole 5 through which extends a vertical driving shaft 6 to whichV is rigidly secured a turbine wheel within the recess or turbine wheel chamber 3.

The turbine wheel comprises, preferably, a horizontal disk 7, which fits against a shoulder 8 on the shaft 6 and which has a central hub 9 fitted on the shaft 6 and held fromrotation thereon by a. key 10, Fig. 1.

The lower end of the shaft 6 is screw threaded and has fitted thereon a nut 11 which bears against the'lower end of the hub 9. A lock ynut 12 on the shaft 6 bears against the nut 11. l Encirclin the shaft 6 is a collar 1.3 havingthreade connection'V with the base member land bearing 'against packing 14, which encircles the shaft 6 in the member 1.j

Extending downwardly from the under side of disk 7 is a circular row of propelling blades 15, each of which is, preferably, concavo-convex, the concave side, as shown inA Fig. V3,-being slightly inclined yto4 the vertical, vthe concave side being the under pressure inwardly against the concave sides of the blades 15. The outer ends `of the passages 16 communicate with an arcuate semicircular passage y17 4provided in the base member 1. By'having the fluid jet, such as steam, projected upwardl a inst the blades 15 and by having the la es 15 inclined, as described, the pressure of the impelling fluid is such as to tend to rotate and to lift the turbine wheel and driving shaft 1, thereby reducing friction, so as to afford an easy running machine.

Mounted on the upper side of the mem ber 4 are two diametrically opposite fluid conductors 18, which are disposed at the inner side and closely adjacent to the blades 15 at points res ctively opposite' to the passages 4, the atter being arranged to dischar between the blades 15 into the intake endg respectively of the conductors 18. The conductors 18 are arran d to discharge against the concave sides o the blades 15, see Fig. 2. In-the intake end of each conductor 18 are arran ed a plurality of abutments 19, preferab y concave-convex and disposed reversely with respect to the blades 15, and which are attached at their lower ends to the member 4. The abutments 19 are arranged so as to register with the blades 15. Y

Fluid under pressure, such as steam, passing `from the passage 17 through the passages 16 will strike against and go inwardly between the blades 15 and into the intake end of each conductor 18 between the blades 19 and will then again be discharged from the conductors 18 outwardly against the blades 15. This construction affords a very eilicient mechanism.

For regulatably supplying the passage I provide a valve controlled mechanism of any suitable design. In the form shown a va ve casing 20 has its lower threaded end fitted in a threaded hole in the to of the member 1. The casing 2O is provi ed with a central vertical hole 21, the lower end of which communicates with the assage 17 and which intersects a port 22, Beige. 5 and 6, which communicates with a lateral passage 23 across which extends a screen 24. Attached to the casin 20 is a collar 25 adapted to be connec with a steam pipe not shown, which supplies steam under ressure to the machine. The under side o the collar 25 is provided with a drain passage 26, normally closed by a screw plug 27.

Vertically slidable in the passage 21 `is a cylindrical valve 28 having a verticalpassage 29, Fig. 6, which at its lower end communicates with the passage 21, and which at its upper end communicates with a chamber 30 having a threaded opening normally closed by a screw plug 31 and in alinement with the assage 21.

The valJve 28 is arranged to open and close the port 22 and is normally forced toward the closed osition by a coil spring 32 which eneircles t e valve 28 and which bears at its lower end against a peripheral ange 33 on the valve 28, the upper end of the spring being arranged to bear against the ,screw plug 31.

For opening the valve 28 against the pressure of the spring 32, I provide a horizontal rock shaft 34 which is rotatably mounted in a screw plug 35 fitted in a lateral threaded hole in the casing 20 and which communicates with the chamber 30. Secured to the rock shaft 34 in the chamber 3() is a sleeve 36, Fig. 6, which is provided with two laterally extending arms 37 which are disposed at opposite sides respectively of the valve 28 and which are ada ted to bear against the under side of the. nge 33.

For rocking the shaft 34 to lift the valve 28, the rock shaft 34 is provided at its outer end with a crank 38 to which is pivoted the lower end of a connecting rod 39, the upper end of which is pivoted by a horizontal pin 40 to the outer end of a substantially horizontal lever 41, Fig. 1, which extends through a slot 42 in the side wall of a cylindrical casing 43, the lower end of which is su ported by legs v44 mounted on the upper e of the base member 1. An air space is provided between the base lnember 1 and the casing 43 to 'prevent the heating of the casing 43 by the member 1.

The lever 41 is pivoted by a horizontal bolt 45 ,to the upper end of vertical post 46, the lower end of which is threaded and fitted in a threaded hole in the lower closed end of thecasing 43.

l When the outer end of the lever 41 is swung upwardly a sufficient distance, the valve 28 will be opened byl means of the rod 39, crank 38, rock shaft 34 and arms 37. This action of the lever 41 is effected by means ofa vertical coil spring 47, Fig. 1, which encircles a sleeve 48 mounted on the shaft 6 within the casing 43 and keyed to said shaft by a key 49. The u per end of spring 47 bears against a riplieral fla 50 on the sleeve 48. The ower end of t e spring 47 bears against a bearingl collar or member 51 which encircles and is longitudinally slidable on the sleeve 48 and which is encircled by and spaced apart from a bearing member 52 of annular form and which is ri idly attached to the inner side of a ring mem r 53 having two oppositely disposed trunnions 54, Fig. 7. which are respectively pivoted to two arms 55 rovided at the inner end of the lever 41. alls 56V` are disposed between and having a bearing against the ring bearing members 51 and 52.

Suitable speed actuated means are provided for swin 'ng the inner end of the lever 41 upwar ly against the pressure of spring 47 such means may comprise centrifugally operated members 57 which are pivoted respectively by transverse pins 58 to lateral arms 59-on the sleeve 48. The inner ends of the members 57 are adapted to bear against the lower side of a collar 60 which the bolt 45, as viewed in Fig. 1, has attachedto it the lower end of a vertical coil s ring 61, the upper endof which is attache to a. vertical screw 62, which is vertically slidably mounted in a horizontal arm of a right l an le bracket 63', which is fastened to the inner wall of theI casing -43. A nut 64 is ported by a peripheral r61 may be varied. By adjusti above the shoulder 66.

mounted on the screw 62 and rests upon the bracket 63. By adjusting the nut 64, the upward pull on the lever 41 by the spring the nut 64, so as to increase the tension of t e spring 61, the of the shaft 6 may be increased.

The shaft 6 is mounted in two bearings, preferably of the ball bearing type, supthe casing 43. The lower bearing comprises the following described arts.-

" A ring bearin member 65, ig. 1,k is mounted on the s aft 6 and isheldagainst shoulder 66 by a nut 67l mounted on' a vscrew threaded A ring bearing member 68 encircles and is yspaced apart from the member 65and rests u on an annular shoulder 69 inthe bottom i) the casing 43. Balls 70 are mounted -in seats provided therefor in lthe bearingmembers 65 and 68. e

The shaft 6 extends through a central opening 71`in the bottom of the casing 43.

` A removable plate 72 is attached by lbolts 73 tothe bottom of the casing 43 and is prog, vided with an upwardl extending tubular rejection 74, thereby ormng anoil well into which extends the lowerend of kan annular extension 75, which encircles the tubular projection 74 and which is attached to and rotates with the rin member 65. The outer side of the extension 75 is u wardly 'and outwardly flaring, so that w en the` shaft 6 is rotated, and with it the ring member 65 and its flaring extension 75, the oil on the plate -72 will be thrown upwardly and outwardly against the balls 70 and against the ring` members 65 and 68. The upper end of the opening 71 has loosely fittedy in it a removable cover 76 which is encircled by an annular upwardlyextending flange 77 on the upper yside of the bottom of the casing 43. This lange with the bot-tom of the casing 43 forms an oil receptacle into which oil may be fed by a pipe 78 attached to the inner side of the casing 43 and having a funnel 79 at its upper end. A similar pipe 80 atpart `of the shaft rontc the plate 72.

The u per bearing for the shaft 6Vis composed o the following described rts.

Keyed on'the upper end of tiiea shaft 6 is a ring bearing member 83, Fig. 1, which is encircled by and spaced apart from a ring bearing member 84 mounted in a central -k tubular portion 85 extending upwardl from the top of a spider 86 mounted on 'an fitted in the upper open end of the casing` 43. Hinged to the spider 86 is a cover 87, arranged .to close the ltop of the casing 43 to protect the contents of the casing 43 from inju from outside sources.

Ba ls 88 are mounted in annular seats provided in the rin members 83 and 84.

The lower si e of the member 83 has an annular extension 89, the outerwall of which -flares upwardly and outwardly. The extension 89 encircles an upward y extending tubular ortion 90 on the upper side of a removabe plate 91, which 1s attached by bolts 92 to theunder side of the spider 86. An oil receptacle is thus formed in the tubullar portion 85. When the member 83 revolves with theshaft 6, oil is carried up wardl and outwardly against the members l83 an 84 and balls 88 by the flaring outer Wall of the tubular extension 89. A removable cover.93 is attached to the upper end of the tubular portion 85 by bolts 94.

Mounted on and spaced-apart from the shaft 6 in the casing 43 is a hub 95 of an. armature 96, the latter cooperating with field magnets, not shown, locatedy in the casin 43.

wo lon ltudinally divided tapering collars 97 an 98 are 'respectively fitted in the upper and lower ends ofthe hub 95. The latter is 'made rotatable with the shaft 6 by a key 99. The collar 98 embraces the shaft 6 and is su rted on the upper end of the sleeve 48. e collar 97 is screw threaded and fitted on a threaded portion 100 of the shaft 6.

By mounting the armature 96 in the closed casing 43, which is located above and s aced apart from the turbine chamber 3, t ere is no liability of damage to the armature and field magnets of the generator from escaping steam, water or heat from the turbine chamber 3.

By providing a vertical shaft and having mounted on it the turbine wheel and armature, and utilizing the fluid pressure, which rotates the turbine wheel and with it the shaft 6 and armature 96, for lifting and supporting the turbine wheel, a double function is effected and the bearings which contain the balls 70 and 88 are not required to support the weifrht of the turbine wheel, driving shaft and` armature, excepting when the engine is at rest. lVhen the engine is running these bearin are required only to hold the driving sha t from lateral movement. Much friction and wear is thus eliminated.

By swinging the cover 87 to the open position, access to the interior of the casing 43 is obtained, for the purpose of changin the speed of the engine by adjustment o the nut 64, for supplying oil to the bearings in the casing 43 or for any other purpose.

In the operation of my invention, the springs 47 and 61 initially swing the outer end of the lever 41 upwardly, thereby forcing the valve 28 upwardly, so that the passage 21 is in operative communication with the inlet port 22. Fluid under pressure, such as steam from a boiler then passes through the collar 25, passage 23, port 22 and passages 21 and 17 to the inclined passages 16, rom which fluid jets are laterally and upwardly projected against the inclined concave sides of the blades 15, thereby rotating and lifting the turbine vwheel and with it the shaft 6 and armature 96. The propelling Huid passes between the blades 15 and abutments 19 and through the conduc-` tors 18 and is discharged by the latter against the concave sides of the blades 15. The exhaust steam passes out of the chamber 3 through an outlet pipe 101 with which the plate 4 is provided.

I do not limit my invention to the structure shown and described, as many modifications, within the sco of the appended claims, may be made without departing from the spirit of my invention.

lVhat I claim is:

1. In a turbine en ine, a support, a vertical shaft rotatable t ereon, a turbine wheel secured to and rotatable with and adapted to support said shaft and comprising a horizontal disk having on its under side downwardly extendingpropelling blades having upwardly inclined imder sides, and means for projecting an upwardl inclined fluid jet under ressure against t e under side of said dis and against the upwardly inclined under sides of said blades, substantially as Set forth.

2. In a turbine en ine, a support, a ver- Ptical shaft rotatable t ereon, a turbine wheel secured thereto and rotatable therewith and adapted to support said shaft and having a horizontal disk provided on its under side with a circular row of downwardly extending concavo-convex blades, the concave sides being upwardly inclined and the under sides of the blades, a fluid conductor on said support at the inner side of said blades and arranged to dischar e against the concave sides of the blades an having in its intake end concavoconvex abutments adjacent to and adapted to register with said blades and rr versely 'disposed with respect to the blades, and means for projecting an upwardly inclined fluid jet under pressure i inwardly against the concave sides of and between said blades and into the intake end of said conductor, substantially as set forth.

In "testimony whereof I have signed my name to this specification.

RALPH I. FROST. 

